600 KCTCS employees and students rally against cuts

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February 27, 2010

Special to the CJ The Commonwealth Journal Sat Feb 27, 2010, 08:40 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The chant, "K-C-T-C-S, No More Cuts!" reverberated through the Kentucky state capitol today as more than 600 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) students, employees, faculty and others rallied to encourage legislators to make smart investments in Kentucky's future by investing in KCTCS.

More than 50 Somerset Community College students and employees traveled to Frankfort to joined the rally.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear proclaimed February 25, 2010 as Kentucky Community and Technical College System Day in Kentucky.

Those who rallied represented the 8,425 people who have signed the Kentuckians for Community and Technical Colleges petition, as well as the more than 100,000 students who attend the 16 KCTCS colleges on 68 campuses. The petition is part of a grassroots advocacy campaign to keep higher education accessible to grow our economy and to help Kentuckians find high-wage, high-growth jobs.

"We are here today to demonstrate to state lawmakers the important role KCTCS plays in the lives of Kentuckians and the state's economy, and to ask them to make smart investments by doing two things," said KCTCS President Michael B. McCall at the rally. "First, maintain our base funding. In other words, no more cuts. KCTCS has taken eight budget cuts during the past ten years. The second thing we are asking lawmakers is to pass a transfer bill - HB160 - which is currently in the Senate. This bill will help to eliminate the barriers many of you face when transferring to one of the state's public universities."

The crowd roared in approval of Dr. McCall's requests to the lawmakers. Real students who are taking advantage of the quality education KCTCS is offering Kentuckians right now also spoke at the rally, sharing their stories about how KCTCS has transformed their lives as it transforms Kentucky.

A Hopkinsville Community College student, Laura Galbreath, talked about how, at age 45 and a mother, she decided to transform her life by attending HCC. She's currently the student government president and is majoring in English. Galbreath aspires to become an English instructor at HCC.

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